Different spokes

Volume 48, No. 12, July 13, 2006

BUMPY RIDE: CPL Matthew Spriggs from 37SQN takes to the dirt at Yarramundi, near RAAF Base Richmond, in the lead-up to the Scott 24-hour bike race. Photo by LAC Ben Dempster

MOUNT Kosciuszko will be the ultimate adjudicator on the resolve of Defence cyclists in one of two big events they will contest in October and November.

The Scott 24-hour mountain bike race in Kowen Forest east of Canberra on October 7–8 will be the ideal preliminary for the Hartley Ability Challenge on November 24–26.

Members of the ADF have been involved in the Scott 24-hour race since its inception in 1999. It has grown to be the biggest 24-hour mountain bike race in the world.

“Some of the teams and riders are expected to be quite competitive,” said FLTLT Brendon Mulloy.

“The Scott 24-hour is a participation event first and foremost. While many members are not expected to place highly within the overall event, the battle for ADO Endurance Mountain Biking Champion (male and female) remains open to all members,” he said. 

“Air Force has a mix of entries including a solo rider with SGT Craig “Crackers” Ewen-Crawford in his first solo effort. The two-man team formed by SGT Mick Rand and FLTLT Matt Pinkstone will be a team to watch.

“Most riders have fairly light, high-performance cross-country mountain bikes; downhill bikes are typically much heavier (up to 20kg) and not very efficient to pedal, so the effort required will be big indeed.”

He said November will require another big effort with the Hartley Challenge. The charity ride began in 1999 after four Air Force cyclists wanted a more gruelling challenge following a ride from Sydney to Canberra on tandem bicycles.

”The name of the event comes from the charity we are raising money for,” FLTLT Mulloy said. “It represents not only the challenge faced in life by Hartley’s clients but also the challenge of fundraising and the physical and mental effort to ride from Canberra to Jindabyne, Jindabyne to Mt Kosciuszko; then back to Canberra over three days.”

With Defence sponsorship this year, the riders expect to raise more than $18,000 towards Hartley’s goal of $200,000.

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